TGIF

Obviously, some people at the school still operate under the delusion that Caleb is a little girl. One of the ladies that works at the school got these little booties for Caleb. They look like little teddy bears and the teddy bear heads are actually rattles. I realize the booties are blue, but it's not enough to just stick some blue dye on the product and suddenly transform it into a boy product. But I can't really complain. Mom likes them, so that pretty much settles the question of whether Caleb will wear them.

Caleb is looking forward to his big weekend hanging out with Poppy and TuTu and he got an early start on the festivities today. Caleb played with Poppy some this afternoon after he and Mom came home from school. This evening, everyone met Dad at the California Pizza Kitchen for dinner. When I got there, Caleb was asleep in his stroller, but was soon wide awake. After his own dinner, Caleb was a joy and entertained us all. It seems, though, that Caleb may be starting to pick up the game where he throws something on the floor and the nearest adult rushes to pick it up and hand it back to him so the process can be repeated.

The arrival of grandparents usually portends good things for Caleb. This particular visit has resulted in many new clothes. TuTu likes to come to the city becuase there is a much better selection of baby clothes with which she can spoil her grandson. They went shopping yesterday and bought Caleb several new things. In particular, they got Caleb several holiday outfits which we all will look forward to him wearing. But she also picked out some clothes for him to wear now and Mom chose one of the new outfits right away. Caleb shows off one of his new outfits as he plays after we got home from dinner.

Mom likes to play this game with Caleb. She hides him under the burp cloth and then she helps him grab hold of the burb cloth. Caleb pulls the cloth off his face, sometimes with Mom's help and
sometimes without. Once the cloth is pulled away, Mom looks him in the eye and laughs and he usually laughs right back at her. He generally enjoys this game and after a few repititions, he is anticipating when he can see Mom again. It's a good game and it is going to help him in so many ways.

TuTu

Poppy and TuTu have been here for a couple of days now and I think everyone is pleased with their visit so far. Caleb seems to be enjoying it. The last couple of days when I have come home from work, Caleb has been taking a nap in TuTu's arms. That in and of itself is not that special. But what is special is how deeply he has been napping when he sleeps with TuTu. When I have seen Caleb sleeping with TuTu, he has been dead to the world. He is able to get into a really deep sleep with her.

Caleb has also enjoyed some play time with TuTu. Tonight, after we got home from dinner, Caleb was laying on the couch between Mom and TuTu have a good old time. When Mom got up to go fix Caleb's bath, Caleb rolled over onto his stomach. He pushed himself up pretty high to pose for this picture.

I am looking forward to this weekend when Mom and Caleb won't have to go to school so Poppy and TuTu can see Caleb all day long.

On the Bottle

Now that Mom is in class on Wednesday nights for several hours, we are trying to get Caleb to learn to take milk from a bottle. From the time she leaves for class until she comes home is a long time and is longer than Caleb is used to going without eating. Poppy and Tutu and Caleb and Dad all went out to dinner tonight. Caleb had taken a long nap and was very lively during dinner. Once our food arrived, I had Caleb. I thought he was acting hungry, so I got the bottle out and tried to feed him. Caleb insisted on holding the bottle. He kept bringing to his mouth and then setting it down. Everytime, he was able to get the nipple in his mouth. The only problem was he wasn't actually drinking the milk. He was chewing on the nipple instead. TuTu things he was getting milk even though he wasn't constantly suckling on the nipple. When I tried to hold the bottle for him and encourage him to eat, he wanted nothing to do with the bottle.

Sometimes, the nursery attendants on Wednesday night are able to get him to eat from the bottle. Tonight, they told me had wasn't having it. When they got home from church, TuTu tried to give him the bottle. In the picture, it looks like he is eating, but I don't actually know if he was taking the bottle.

It's kind of ironic that before he was born and in those first weeks, we were worried about nipple confusion, so we were intent on him getting everything he needs from Julie. Now we are having a hard time getting him to take a bottle. I don't regret our decision in the least and I wouldn't change a thing, but it does strike me as humorous.

Like New

Tuesday, Septebmer 23, 2008

Marissa's mom brought Caleb a new play mat similar to his jungle gym. She said she found it at a garage sale. Since there were two, she took it as a sign that she should get them for Caleb and Marissa to keep in the nursery at school. She cleaned them up and Caleb played on it today.

Poppy and TuTu arrived this afternoon bearing gifts. They played for a little while with some of the new toys they brought. Being a baby, Caleb says his new books taste real good.

We all met for dinner at Five Guys and Caleb sat in his stroller while we ate. He was a good boy all through dinner, but it was also pretty obvious he was tired. After we came home, Mom fed Caleb and then he took a nap in TuTu's arms. He did wake up again and we played with him on a quilt for a few minutes and we were all entertained by his cuteness. However, he must still be worn out from his trip. He got cranky quickly, so Mom decided to go ahead and put him to bed an hour early. Tonight was the hardest night he's had going to sleep in quite some time. It took him a couple of hours to finally fall completely asleep where he didn't wake up every few minutes and cry. I expect because he did not go to sleep right away, he will be tired again Wednesday night. Hopefully he will go right to sleep so that he won't be tired and cranky during Poppy and TuTu's visit.

Sick Day?

Mom and Caleb took a day off from work to rest after the long weekend. I think they were able to do some things around the house, but I think they mostly slept. After their break today, I'm sure they are now ready for Poppy and TuTu's visit this week.

Weekend in Tennessee

We are all back from our respective hectic weekends in one piece. Dad had a great time enjoying a big Hurricanes win and seeing his cousin and new baby Kolt. Meanwhile, Mom and Caleb had a good time seeing lots of family in Tennessee. This was a tough weekend for me. This was the first time I have been away from Caleb. I missed him very much and was really excited to see him last night. Things quickly got back to normal today, but they won't stay that way for long because Poppy and TuTu will be here for a visit starting tomorrow.

There'll be more time for that later. It's time to get caught up on the weekend.

Friday, September 19, 2008

After Mom got off work, she and Caleb headed to the Fort Lauderdale airport to fly to Nashville. Caleb has been on an airplane several times in his short life. Mom said he did really well on the flights. This was especially good news as Mom was nervous to make this trip with Caleb by herself.

Caleb's arrival was greatly anticipated in Tennessee. Mom and Caleb were met by a large contingent including Granddaddy, Whatshername, Uncle S, Auntie M and Auntie M's dog Tillie. Had Granddaddy and Whatshername had a larger vehicle, I'm sure the welcoming party would have been larger.

After dropping Uncle S, Auntie M and Tillie off at their house, Granddaddy got some play time with Caleb before he went through his bedtime routine. Though it was late and I'm sure he was tired, Caleb enjoyed playing with his Granddaddy.

Before going to bed for the night, Caleb got his nightly bath in Whatshername's sink. It doesn't matter where he is, Caleb sure loves his baths.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Caleb had a pretty busy day on Saturday. The day began with a visit from Great Grandmama and Great Granddaddy in the morning. Though you can't really see it, Caleb started the day with his UM bib on in honor of Dad's game.

I was OK with Caleb and Mom heading up to Tennessee without me, but I really have to call things in to question now. When I first met Mom way back when, she consumed a lot of caffeine and her preferred caffeine vessel was a southern soft drink known as Sun Drop. Sun Drop is kind of like Mountain Dew, but Mom would tell you it is way better. In fact whenever they visit, Granddaddy and Whatshername are sure to bring a six pack or two of the stuff to Mom. So I am a little bothered by the fact that Whatshername is pushing the stuff on Caleb at such a young age.

Then there is Granddaddy who expects Caleb to share his love of yard work. He made Caleb take a break from play time in an effort to put him to work. Caleb's not quite up to the task yet, so Granddaddy settled for taking Caleb for a ride around the yard on the lawn mower.

After his day of hard work, Caleb wound down by going out to dinner with more family and then hosting Maw Maw for some more play time. After all the playing, it was finally time for Caleb to have his bath. Because he got his bath in the sink, there was a cup nearby and Caleb felt he needed to have it. I just hope he didn't drink any soapy water.



Sunday, September 21, 2008

While in Tennessee, Mom took another shot at having Caleb sleep in Whatshername's Pack 'n Play. Last time we were in Tennessee, we tried to have Caleb sleep in the Pack 'n Play, but he was having none of it. Part of the problem was that we would disturb whenever we tried to lay him all the way down in the bottom of the crib. Mom was surprised that there was not an attachment to the Pack 'n Play that sat higher. On this trip, Mom poked around a little and sure enough, there were some additional pieces in the Pack 'n Play box. Mom attached it and it was a little easier to get Caleb in and out of the Pack 'n Play.

Also on this trip, Mom came across a quilt that turned out to be the quilt she played on when she was a little baby. Thanks to a touch of nostalgia, Mom declared that this was the quilt Caleb should lie on to play and that this should have been his play quilt all along.

Caleb had a good time going to cradle roll class in Tennesse. It is neat to see him sitting in the big boy seat actually paying attention to his surroundings as he grows more aware.

I'm not surprised that Whatshername was pushing the soda on Caleb. I'm a little more surprised at Mom. Her second favorite drink other than Sun Drop is Purity chocolate milk. Because Granddaddy and Whatshername occasionally bring some Sun Drops, I think chocolate milk may be about what Mom misses the most. Chocolate milk is usually a staple of a visit to Tennessee. But I can't believe Mom is pushing the chocolate milk on Caleb.

Mom and Caleb flew back to Fort Lauderdale in the evening and then drove to Miami International Airport to pick Dad up from his trip. We were all very excited to see each other, but we were also ready to go to bed after our long weekends.